Robyn writes: Today Lex wanted to go and see Cheddar Gorge - about three quarters of an hour's drive from Bath and of course, lots of hiking trails (of the 5 or 6 miles variety). Given that the weather forecast was for intermittent heavy showers, I was extremely unenthusiastic about this prospect so nobly volunteered to stay home and have a washing day!
Lex had a rather taxing 5 mile hike in the gorge, which he says was very hard work - lots of steep climbs and drops. The scenery was spectacular and he only came through a bit of rain so that wasn't too bad, and he was very happy when he'd finished the walk! He didn't go into any of the caves there. He then went for a drive into the cathedral town of Wells and was most impressed with the cathedral there.
Cheddar Gorge
I got through 4 loads of washing, interspersed with trips down into town. On my first, in the morning, I took my computer along to the lovely little cafe on the bridge where we had lunch yesterday and provided free wi-fi, so I had a most enjoyable morning tea while sending emails, putting up the blog etc. I then had a good wander around the shops in the city centre before heading home for lunch and more washing / drying loads. I got home to discover a note from our landlady which let us know that we do actually have free internet access available - woo! Contact with the outside world again!
After lunch I went out and discovered it was raining, so headed for the Assembly Rooms just down from where we're staying. These are the beautiful function rooms which Jane Austen and the society of her time frequented for balls, dances, concerts etc and they are still used today for much the same things (it was closed for a function yesterday when we tried to visit). Nice to see some things don't change in 250 years or so...
By the time I came out of the Assembly Rooms, the rain had stopped so I headed back down into town again to continue exploring. Bath is full of little alleyways and tiny streets and lanes around every corner, and lots and lots of really interesting shops. I visited a heap of op shops - they are very plentiful here and lots of very different charities, from stray animals to the Heart Foundation and Oxfam. Fun to poke around in! We are getting to know our way around the city quite well and the Georgian architecture is the main feature - even some very new buildings have been built in exactly the same style which is really good to see. I had a most enjoyable day and headed home again at 4 o'clock to find that Lex had arrived home just a few minutes earlier.
We decided to go out for a drink, so walked back down the hill (third time today for me!) in search of a pub with a view. We walked right down and along the river before deciding on an old pub behind the Roman Baths, the Huntsman. It was a lovely old pub with comfy chairs and a great place to relax with a drink (Chilean Sav Blanc for me - haven't yet had one I dont like; and a pint of Bristol Ale for Lex). Both were extremely satisfactory. We then walked home up the hill (past No. 16 Bennett Street, where our first Governer, Captain - by then Admiral - Arthur Phillip was living after retirement and where he died) and I cooked tea - a "from scratch" kit of Chicken Pad Thai from the Co-op. Only took about 10 minutes to throw together and it was absolutely delicious! Meals like that are our standard, as they are sooo much cheaper than eating out, and we can have either veges or salad with them. My favourite dessert at the moment is strawberries and yoghurt (the British strawberries are just lovely) and I confess I have a great weakness for the little Cadbury's "Flake" desserts one can find in the dairy aisle....Tea was cooked and ready just in time for "Endeavour" - the prequel to the Inspector Morse series. Hadn't seen it before though I think it may have screened in Australia recently - we really enjoyed it, anyway.
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